Positive position switch



y 1968 N w. BURRIS, JR ETAL 3,384,729

POSITIVE POSITION SWITCH Filed Aug. 8; 1966 mam/1M! 5042/5 .72.. 7522/ a 4604-0 $4M 0%. Fox

JoZ/VT United States Patent POSITIVE POSITION SWITCH Nelson W. Burris, Jr., Long Beach, and Jerry E. Acord, Lakewood, Calif., assignors to Northrop Corporation,

Beverly Hills, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Aug. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 571,010 3 Claims. (Cl. 200172) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A switch adapted to be rotated to a plurality of positionsin which electrical circuits are activated and deactivated. Mounted on a plane surfaces, all visible portions of the switch have a flush relation with theplate. The switch also includes means, visible to an operator of the switch at considerable distance, indicating that all circuits, completed by the switch, are deactivated and therefore safe to work on. Also, if the switch is utilized in connection with a military aircraft, it (visual means) precluded premature take-off prior to proper positioning of the switch.

This invention relates generally to electrical switches and more particularly to electrical switches utilized in aircraft construction and especially to the construction of actuating members of such switches and the method of mounting the same.

The electrical switch disclosed herein is of the rotary type constructed in a novel manner, specifically it is disclosed in connection with a military plane for activating and deactivating fire control circuits thereof and is constructed in a manner assuring that exposed portions of the switch will have a flush relationship with surrounding structure and includes means whereby a visual signal may be added to the switch insuring that all first control circuits of the plane have been deactivated. Although the present switch isdisclosed as being utilized to deactivate a fire control circujt of a military aircraft it may be used in other and similar installations.

Switches of the above type, or at least functioning in the above or similarmanner to provide the same result, are normally positioned behind access doors, inspection panels or similar covering which must be partially removed before a switch can be actuated to activate or deactivate fire control circuit. Such switches are positioned in concealed and similar locations to maintain the streamlined configuration of an aircraft. Further during a turn around operation of military aircraft it is desirable (in fact mandatory) that a planes fire control circuits be rendered inoperative. This action is taken as a precautionary measure so that the plane may safely be rearmed without danger of accidentally closing a fire control circuit resulting in the firing of a planes armaments. This operation is normally performed by ground crews and quite frequently the operation has to be expedited.

It is an object of the present invention to disclose a rotary type electrical switch in which exposed portions thereof have a generally flush relationship with structure on or in which the switch is mounted.

Another object is to disclose a rotary type electrical switch adapted to be actuated from a position outside the structure on or in which the switch is mounted.

Another object is to disclose a rotary type electric switch including means adapted to receive a visual signal member indicating that the rotary portion has been caused to assume a specific relationship with respect to the body portion of the switch insuring that all circuits controlled by the switch have been deactivated.

Although the characteristic features of the present invention are particularly pointed out in the appended 3,384,729 Patented May 21, 1968 claims, the invention itself, also the manner in which it may be carried out, will be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of the rotary switch disclosed herein together with structure surrounding the switch.

FIGURE 2 is a section of the switch of FIGURE 1 taken along the line 22 of the latter figure.

Referring to the drawings, a conventional rotary type switch 11 is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 mounted on the side wall 21 of a pylon of a military plane (not shown). Present day military planes travel at super and hypersonic speeds, accordingly the outer wall 21 is subject to super and hypersonic air flow and accordingly it is imperative that the outer surface of the aforementioned pylon (of which the wall 21 is a part) is maintained as streamlined as possible. For reasons previously stated it is important that the switch 11 can be actuated from outside the wall 21.

The switch 11 is of conventional design including body and rotor portions 12 and 14, respectively. Rotational movement is imparted to the portion 14 means of shaft 16 having a knob or actuating member 17 secured to the outer end of the shaft. The actuating member 17 includes a circular disk-like face portion 18 and a cylindrical hub portion 19 fixedly secured to the shaft 16 substantially as shown in FIGURE 2. It will be seen that the diameter of the face portion 18 exceeds that of the hub portion 19.

The switch 11 is mounted in an adapter member 22 including a cylindrical body portion 23 and a disk-like face portion 24 of larger diameter than the diameter of the body portion 23. The adapter member 22 is provided with a central bore 26 of a size adapted to receive the body portion of the actuating member 17. This bore 26 is counter-bored as indicated by the member 27 the depth and diameter of which allows the face portion of the actuating member 17 to be received therein and provides a flush relationship between the members 17 and 22. Also, in this respect, the diameter of the face portion 18 is only slightly less than that of the counter-bore 27, in other words a free fit is provided between the portion 18 and the counter-bore 27. A plurality of leg members 28 depend from the body portion of the adapter member 22 and provides means whereby the body portion of the switch 11 is secured to the adapter member 22.

A circular aperture 29 is provided in the wall 21 and the outer portion thereof counter-bored as indicated by the numeral 31. The diameter of the aperture 29 exceeds slightly the diameter of the body portion of the adapter 22 and the diameter and depth of the counter-bore 31 is such that the face portion of the adapter 22 is received therein to provide a snug and flush relationship with the outer surface of the wall 21 and the face portion of the adapter 22. The adapter 22 is fixedly secured to the wall 21. The surfaces of the hub portion of the actuating member 17 and the bore of the adapter member 22 are rendered moisture and dust proof by an O-ring 32 positioned therebetween as shown in FIGURE 2.

The rotor member of the switch 11 has four positions indicated by markings etched or otherwise provided on the face portion of the member 22. These positions indicated by the numerals 33, 34 and 36 correspond to specific electric circuits and when the control member 17 is rotated to these positions the switch 11 functions to active the aforementioned speciiic circuits (not shown)at least partiallymaking possible the firing of bombs, rockets or C.B.U. (Clustered Bomb Unit), respectively. The fourth position 37 of the rotor member 14 results in the switch deactivating all fire control circuits (not shown) con- 3 trolled by the switch 11. An arrow 38 is also etched for otherwise provided on the face portion of the switch 11 which indicates the present position of the rotor of the switch 11, the arrow 38 considered with markings 33, 34 and 36 provides easy means indicating which of the three fire control circuits are activated. Also the arrow 38 provides means indicating all fire control circuits are deactivated, that is when the point of the arrow 38 coincides with the markings 37. The rotor member of the switch 11 is moved between its positions 33, 34, 36 and 37 by means of a slot 39 provided in the face portion of the actuator member 17, it will be noticed that this slot is shaped in a manner allowing a coin or other disk-like object to be utilized for this purpose if a conventional screw driver is not available.

Further assurance that the rotor member of the switch 11 is in position 37 (Safe All Stores) is provided in that substantially semi-circular apertures 41 are provided in the peripheral portion of the rotor member 17 and the bore 26 of the adapter member 22. When the walls defining the semi-circular apertures 41 coincide it will be seen they cooperate to define a true circular aperture 42 and a further indication is provided that the rotor of the switch 11 is in position 37 (Safe All Stores). At this time it will be apparent that a cylindrical rod (not shown) carrying a red flag or streamer may be received in the aperture 42 indicating that all fire control circuits are deactivated although viewed at considerable distance.

Thus it will be seen that an electric switch is disclosed which may be mounted on streamlined structure and the streamlined configuration thereof maintained, which may be actuated externally of the structure and provides means adapted to receive a flag or similar means indicating that all fire control circuits of a plane is deactivated.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise a preferred form of putting the invention into etfect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. The combination of an electric switch of the rotary type with structure in which the switch is mounted the combination comprising:

(a) a structure including a portion having a plane outer surface defining a circular aperture, the latter being counter-bored adjacent said outer surface;

(b) an electric switch including body and rotary portions, the latter portion including a stem member extending outwardly from said body portion;

(c) an adapter member of circular configuration including disk-like face and body portions, the disk-like face portion having inner and outer plane faces and said body portion having a central bore extending therethrough;

(d) the central bore of said adapter member being counter-bored adjacent said outer surface of said adapter member and the adapter member being fixedly secured in the circular aperture with said outer face thereof having a flush relation with said outer surface of said structure;

(e) a circular actuating member for said switch including disk-like face and body portions, the disk-like face portion having inner and outer plane surfaces and the body portion having a bore therein;

(f) and the stem of said rotor portion being received in said bore in said body portion of said actuator member and said actuator member being mounted in the bore in said adapter member with the outer surfaces of said actuator and adapter members and the plane surface of said structure being located in a common plane as the actuating is rotated throughout its complete range of operation.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1:

(a) in which the face-like portion of said actuating member defines a slot, the lower surface of which is of arcuate configuration, opening on said outer face and providing means whereby the rotary portion of said switch may be rotated to various positions with respect to said body portion thereby activating a specific electric circuit or deactivating all circuits controlled by said switch.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2.

(a) in which the peripheral portions of said bore formed in said adapter member and actuating member defining substantially semi-circular apertures adapted to receive a circular pin at such times as said actuating member is rotated to a position in which the semi-circular apertures define a true cylindrical surface and all electrical circuits controlled by said switch are deactivated.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

H. O. JONES, Assistant Examiner. 

